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Soda Springs in contention for power plant: Facility would be similar to one planned near Pocatello |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 16 May 2005 |
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POCATELLO - Another little-known energy company is proposing to build a coal-gasification power plant in southeast Idaho.
Mountain Island Energy LLC met with Idaho Department of Environmental Quality officials in Boise Tuesday afternoon to discuss locating the 600 megawatt plant near Soda Springs.
A similar facility is in the works for the former FMC site near Pocatello.
"The department's air quality staff met with Mountain Island Energy and their environmental consultants," IDEQ resource manager Mike Simon said. "They have not selected a site, but they are looking at Soda Springs."
Simon said the company wants to begin construction in 2009. He said they declined to say what they plan to do with the power generated at the plant.
No information about Mountain Island Energy was available Tuesday and the company's environmental consultant, Ecology and Environment, refused to comment on its client's behalf.
Justin Hayes, program director for the Idaho Conservation League, attended the meeting.
He said besides the two plants proposed in southeast Idaho, a third is planned for Jerome County. Jerome Mayor Charles Correll confirmed a coal-fueled power plant is on the county's agenda, but said he did not know if it would use the same technology as the others.
Hayes said he believes the energy companies must see loopholes in the state's environmental laws.
"It is strange that three of these things have been proposed in southern Idaho in the last few months. There are only two others in the United States," he said. "Making Idaho an energy colony for the West Coast seems like a bad idea."
Hayes said the situation underscores the need for Idaho to create a statewide siting policy for the plants because individual counties see potential revenue while overlooking environmental concerns that extend across their borders. Hayes said Soda Springs already has significant air quality issues with the phosphate plants operating there.
"Why do they want to locate here?" Hayes said. "It's not like we are sitting on large coal deposits. They will have to bring it in by train."
Bob Geddes, president pro tem of the state Senate, is a resident of Soda Springs.
"I have been in contact with the group proposing the plant near Pocatello for six or seven months, but I've never heard of a proposal for Soda Springs," Geddes said. "I've also never heard of (Mountain Island Energy LLC)."
Soda Springs Mayor Kirk Hansen was unavailable for comment Tuesday. |
